Charlie Ayers’ Calafia Cafe Opens

Calafia Cafe & Market A Go Go is the brainchild of Charlie Ayers, one-time private chef to the Grateful Dead. Although the cafe is open, the market — with its planned salad bar, rotisserie chicken, and pre-cooked meals to reheat at home — won’t open its doors until February.

Carafes of house-filtered still or carbonated water are set on the tables. Lumber from a 1910 Pennsylvania barn was reclaimed for the ceiling. A chandelier of 66 recycled milk bottles graces the front dining area. Other custom table lamps are constructed from a found gas can and dairy can; and counters are made from recycled paper put under immense pressure to create a hard, dense surface.

The cafe and bar are open daily, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Happy Hour, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily, will feature select wines, beers, and appetizers at a discount.

5 comments

Charlie likes to add his own interpretation to global dishes. I didn’t get a chance to try the Fiery BBQ Pork Bowl at the friends-family private party over the weekend. But it could be considered a new-style bibimbap, I suppose. The shortribs are killer. Fall-off-the-bone tender and ever so bodaciously beefy tasting. The veggies in the “daily tempura” get high marks for their notable fresh-picked flavor, too.